(New York) U.S. health officials on Friday encouraged more Americans to wear the type of N95 or KN95 masks used by medical professionals to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Posted yesterday at 9:12 p.m.
These types of masks are considered more effective at filtering the air. But they were previously in short supply, and officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had said they should be prioritized for use by medical professionals.
In an update to the guidelines released Friday, CDC officials eliminated concerns about supply shortages and made it clearer that properly fitted N95 and KN95 masks provide the best protection.
However, agency officials noted that some masks are harder to tolerate than others, and urged people to choose well-fitting masks that they will wear consistently.
“Our main message remains that any mask is better than no mask,” CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said in a statement.
CDC experts have evolved their advice on masks throughout the pandemic.
In its previous update, in September, CDC officials were more encouraging of disposable N95 masks, saying they could be used in some situations if supplies were available. For example, being near a large number of people for long periods of time on a train, bus or plane, caring for someone in poor health or being more likely to have a serious illness are situations which would justify the wearing of the N95 mask.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that his administration plans to make “high-quality masks,” including N95s, available to the public free of charge. He said further details would be provided next week. The federal government has a reserve of more than 750 million N95 masks, the White House said.
The latest guidance from CDC experts indicates that there is a special category of “N95 surgical” masks, specifically designed for protection against blood splashes and other operating room hazards. These masks are generally not available for sale to the public and should continue to be restricted to medical professionals, the agency said.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Department of Science Education. The Associated Press is solely responsible for all content.